From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,
Vol. V (1979), pp. 135
A community in California.
(LSM-175: dp. 1,095; l 203'6"; b. 34'6"; dr. 8'4"; s. 12.5
k.; cpl. 59; a. 2 40mm.; cl. LSM-1)
LSM-175, originally LCT(7)-1676, was laid down 11 July 1944
at the Charleston Naval Shipyard; launched 3 August 1944, sponsored by Miss
Emily V. Jackson, and commissioned 25 September 1944.
Following a Chesapeake Bay shakedown, LSM-176 departed the east coast, transited
the Panama Canal, and continued on to San Diego, arriving 1 December. From
San Diego, she proceeded to San Francisco, thence to Pearl Harbor and the
Solomons. Arriving at Florida Island 20 February, she trained for her first
campaign, Okinawa. She departed the Solomons 12 March, staged at Ulithi,
then steamed west, arriving off the Hagushi beaches on western Okinawa 1
April.
Ae the assault forces streamed ashore, LSM-175 unloaded transports
and cargo vessels. At 0910 an enemy plane was taken under fire. In the course
of the fight anti-aircraft projectiles struck in the LSM'S well deck, wounding
9 embarked marines and 2 bluejackets. On the 6th, she again turned her guns
on an enemy plane and assisted in splashing it 600 yards off the starboard
bow. On 20 April she got underway for Ulithi, whence she steamed to Leyte,
arriving 28 May
For the remainder of the war LSM-175 carried rolling stock and mixed
cargo to the Marianas and amongst the Philippines, returning to Okinawa
in mid August. Through September she operated in the Philippines and in
October shifted to Japan for brief duty with the ocoupation forces. Arriving
in Tokyo Bay 8 October, she sailed for the United States in late November.
On 26 December she arrived at San Diego, then, in February 1946, steamed
to San Francisco where she decommissioned 11 July 1946.
Reactivated four years later, LSM-176 was recommissioned 8 September
1950. Homeported at San Diego, she trained Marines and SeaBees in amphibious
operations until 30 June 1955. Transferred to the 11th Naval District on
that date, she was decommissioned and placed in service on 30 October. Disarmed
and with a reduced crew, the LSM then took up logistic support of the islands
in that district. Homeported at Long Beach in October 1956 and renamed Oceanside,
14 October 1959, she served the 11th Naval District until 1961. On 1 February
of that year she was placed out of service struck from the Navy List and
transferred to the custody of the Republic of Viet Nam to serve in the RVN
Navy as Huong Giang (HQ-404).
LSM-176 received 1 battle star for World War II Service.